“I should not have done it” Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kenya Moore drops bombshells amidst her exit from the show

In a surprising turn of events, Kenya Moore has finally broken her silence following her dramatic departure from The Real Housewives of Atlanta. Nearly two weeks after viewers witnessed her final appearance in season 16, the 54-year-old reality star addressed the explicit photo scandal involving co-star Brittany Eady that led to her exit.

"It was wrong, I should not have done it at my salon I worked so hard for. I am very sorry that I shared the photos because it wasn't right. I did not break the law, and I'm very sorry for what I did," Kenya admitted in a YouTube video posted Saturday, April 19.

The controversy erupted during the April 6 episode of The Real Housewives of Atlanta when Kenya hosted the cast at the grand opening of her Kenya Moore Hair Spa business. Moore startled guests by revealing intimate photos of Brittany, 37, during what should have been a celebration of her business endeavor.

Kenya was removed from filming with the ensemble for the rest of the season as a result of this event, which prompted Bravo to launch an urgent investigation. This is a startling move for a celebrity who has starred in over ten seasons since her debut in Season 5.

What is the controversy surrounding Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kenya Moore?

In her YouTube video titled "The Confessional They Tried to Silence," Kenya offered her side of the story regarding the explicit photos. Addressing accusations from former castmate Porsha Williams that other housewives were involved in procuring the images, Moore firmly stated:

"We did not get any photos from any person."

She further explained the source of the controversial content:

"The photos were online on various porn sites, many porn sites. I don't watch porn. I'm not a porn expert... These investigators and everyone involved...found those images and they're still there."

Moore also pushed back against revenge porn allegations, claiming she consulted with a local attorney "who advised me about the federal as well as the Georgia state law" before the salon event.

"I shared photos that were readily available online," she insisted.

Declaring:

"I did not commit revenge porn. I shared a publicly available photo that was accessible online."

The tension between Kenya and Brittany had been building throughout the season. In a previous episode, Brittany was caught on camera during a heated argument with Kenya saying:

"I don't play them games! I got whip, motherf***ing pistols, everything!"

This claim became another point of contention after Brittany later denied possessing firearms during an April 13 appearance on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen. Bravo conducted an investigation and determined she hadn't violated the network's no-weapons policy.

Kenya expressed frustration about this development in her YouTube video:

"I take a lot of umbrage to someone now saying that they didn't have a gun. Somehow, that's supposed to absolve them of everything that happened after?"

Reunion invite drama and salary claims

Perhaps most shocking among Kenya's revelations was her claim about The Real Housewives of Atlanta season 16 reunion.

"I was invited to the season 16 reunion and then disinvited a few months ago," she alleged.

Adding:

"The disrespect is insane. From me being someone who has always loved Real Housewives of Atlanta and always wanted to see them win, to being shut out, not given the opportunity to apologize... I think it's really odd."

Bravo quickly disputed this claim, with a spokesperson stating that this statement was inaccurate.

Moore also took a moment to address questions about her financial situation amid rumors about her Bravo salary. While avoiding specific figures, she boasted:

"I think it's decent to say that I make more than the girls on the show now."

She dismissed reports about her net worth being $800,000, pointing out:

"My house is worth $3 million. How is my net worth $800,000? I own that much in cars."

As Kenya tries to control the narrative through her own social media channels, fans are watching the fallout from her actions unfold on screen as fresh episodes continue to show on Sunday nights. It's unknown if Kenya's tenure on The Real Housewives of Atlanta will end permanently, but her departure is among the most dramatic in the program's illustrious history.

Although her future with the franchise and The Real Housewives of Atlanta that made her famous seems increasingly dubious, the former beauty queen appears to be focused on clearing her reputation and giving her viewpoint for the time being.

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You can watch The Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 16 every Sunday at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo, with episodes available to stream the next day on Peacock.